Chapter 4, Verse 29 (Bhagavad Gita 4.29)
Chapter 4: Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog – Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action
Sanskrit Shloka
अपाने जुह्वति प्राण प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे। प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः
Transliteration
apāne juhvati prāṇaṁ prāṇe ’pānaṁ tathāpare prāṇāpāna-gatī ruddhvā prāṇāyāma-parāyaṇāḥ apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇān prāṇeṣhu juhvati sarve ’pyete yajña-vido yajña-kṣhapita-kalmaṣhāḥ
Word Meanings
apāne—the incoming breath; juhvati—offer; prāṇam—the outgoing breath; prāṇe—in the outgoing breath; apānam—incoming breath; tathā—also; apare—others; prāṇa—of the outgoing breath; apāna—and the incoming breath; gatī—movement; ruddhvā—blocking; prāṇa-āyāma—control of breath; parāyaṇāḥ—wholly devoted apare—others; niyata—having controlled; āhārāḥ—food intake; prāṇān—life-breaths; prāṇeṣhu—life-energy; juhvati—sacrifice; sarve—all; api—also; ete—these; yajña-vidaḥ—knowers of sacrifices; yajña-kṣhapita—being cleansed by performances of sacrifices; kalmaṣhāḥ—of impurities
Translation
Others offer the outgoing breath into the incoming, and the incoming into the outgoing, by restraining the flow of both, solely absorbed in the practice of breath control.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse describes the practice of Pranayama as a form of sacred sacrifice, shifting the focus from external offerings to the internal rhythm of life force. By balancing the dualities of inhalation and exhalation, the seeker achieves a state of stillness that transcends the physical body and calms the restless mind. It teaches that mastery over one's physiological processes is a pathway to self-realization, as the breath acts as the vital bridge between the gross body and the subtle consciousness. Through this disciplined suspension of breath, the practitioner learns to detach from sensory disturbances, creating an inner space where the presence of the Divine can be felt. Ultimately, it signifies that internal equilibrium is the highest form of ritual, preparing the mind for the deeper silence required for spiritual liberation.